eagar



Z'Sheets J .D.EAGAR. v

' BOOK.

No. 590,805. Patented Sept. 28,1897

(No Model.) 2 Sheets8heet 2.

J. D. EAGAR.

BOOK. I No. 590,805. Patented Sept. 28,1897.

WITNESSES OMOBGMW 2W NTOR i/z THE Noam: awns co, PNOTO-LITHQ. WASHINUYON, ac

NITED STATES rricn,

JOSEPH D. EAGAR, OF CHATTANOOGA, TENNESSEE.

BOOK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 590,805, dated September 28, 1897.

Application'filed March 15,1897. Serial No. 627,658. (NomodeL) To all whom it may concern.-

Be itknown that I, J OSEPH D. EAGAR, of Chattanooga, in the county of Hamilton and State of Tennessee, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Books, of which the following is a specification,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the numerals of reference marked thereon.

My invention is intended to facilitate and render more accurate the work of bookkeepers, accountants, and others having charge of books in the striking of balances, &c., and at the same time to dispense with a multiplicity of books ordinarily found necessary in the carrying out of such work.

This invention is, in other words, designed to take the place of the ledger, journal, and index commonly used in the keeping of accounts in banks, mercantile houses,manufacturing establishments, and the like, and to consolidate in one book the separate books above mentioned,-tl1e invention providing a convenient, quick, and accurate method of proving all entries made in the ledger.

lVhen applied to bank purposes, this invention becomes particularly useful in allowing the bookkeeper to have before him at all times means for proving with speed and accuracy each days work and of acquiring accurate knowledge of the balance standing to the credit of each depositor, and is more especially useful, as will be understood, where the accounts are numerous.

The invention relates not only to a system whereby the above and other advantages are availed of, but also to a mechanical construction entering into the book, as. will be hereinafter pointed out.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a book or ledger in which is embodied my invention, the book being open to better show the several features of the invention. Figs. 2 and 3 are details hereinafter described. Figs. 4 and 5 show modifications.

Similar numerals of reference indicate similar parts in the respective figures.

1 represents the book as an entirety, of which 2 2 show the cover. The book is bound in the ordinary form, its body consisting of the required number of pages 3, which may be lined, ruled, and spaced to properly accord with therequirements of the book. In the example shown the leaves or body of the book 1 are divided into four sections, each section therefore comprising one-fourth of the entire number of leaves of the book. These sections are designated by the numerals 4, 5, 6, and '7;

S 8 8 8 represent four stiff cardboard partitions which are bound in with the body of the book through the medium of flexible strips 9 and separate the divisions 4, 5, 6, and 7. The partitions 8 8S 8 are of a length equal to the length or depth of the pages, but their width is greater than that of the body of the book, the partitions extending some distance beyond the limit of the body to or near the outer edge of the cover. It will be seen that by means of the partitions 8 8 8 8 the entire book is divided into four independent parts, although the paging continues consecutively throughout the book, as usual. The number of divisions into which the book is arranged is immaterial and may be varied, -the object being to devote each section to accounts, entries, dtc, under names of individuals, corporation's, &c., comprised by letters forming a part of the entire alphabet.-

partition near its outer edge, although the index may be printed upon the partition, if desired. The nature of the index may be varied to suitthe diversified uses to which the book may be applied. The index may contain any convenient arrangement of initial letters and distribution of numerals indicative of the pages of the book. Each partition is also furnished with a memorandumslip 12, which in the example shown forms one of a number arranged in the form of a pad from which each sheet may be detached at pleasure, although it is obvious that a single memorandum-sheet may be used for each days work, as shown in Fig. 4., or a book of the length of the pad shown may be employed, as seen in Fig. 5, either arrangement being fully within the spirit of my invention. It is preferred, for reasons of economy and convenience, that the pad, sheet, or book shall be removable from the partition, as it is obvious that the book and its partitions will in use outlast many of such pads, books, or sheets. As shown, the pad is made detachable from the partition, being held thereto by elastic bands 13, which embrace the stiff backing of the pad at each end, surrounding it and a portion 14 of the partition, which is separated from the remainder by means of a slit or slot 15. Any other simple and convenient device may be substituted for detachably holding the pad to the partition.

The sheets of the pad or its described equivalent may have thereon any convenient arrangement of lines, lettering, (be, but preferably has the same alphabetical arrangement as that found on the adjacent index so far as to include the same letters of the alphabet. As shown, each sheet of the pad has provision for the date and divisions in which may be indicated Checks paid, Deposits, Old balances, and New balances, the figures under the head of Old balances representing the amount standing to the credit of the depositor before the posting of checks and deposits, while under New balances is indicated the amount standing to his credit after the posting of checks and deposits.

It is obvious that the lettering, figures, (be. upon the sheets of the pad or its equivalent must be varied to suit the use to which the book is to be applied. Thus in mercantile houses, manufacturing establishments, and the like instead of checks and deposits the sheet would indicate Debits and Credits, as will be readily understood by those proficient in accounts; and it is not my intention to limit this invention to any arbitrary distribution of matter placed upon the sheets of the pad or to any special character of index mounted upon each partition, provided that the index shall always furnish a key to the page or pages in the book which have connection with the memoranda or items entered or to be entered upon the pad.

While I have described each sheet of the pad or its equivalent as being designed to receive a days entries, it is obvious that in some uses to which my invention may be applied the entries upon each sheet of the pad may cover a greater period of timeas, for instance, in striking a monthly balance or a trialbalance or rendering a monthly or weekly statement of the condition of the account of a depositor or customer.

It will be seen from the foregoing that this invention provides an effective, convenient, and compact means whereby the objects to be attained may be carried out, dispensing, as has been hereinbefore pointed out, with the employment of several detached books, this invention thereby greatly economizing space, which, as known, is a valuable consideration in view of the usual crowded condition of banks, counting-rooms, and the like.

Having described my invention, I claim- A book or ledger consisting of independent sections of leaves, said sections being sepa rated by still? partitions projecting beyond the limits of the leaves of the book, each partition having near its outer edge an index, combined with pads, or their described equivalent, formed of sheets or leaves, each of which is adapted to receive a calculation or summary of entries, memoranda, balances, &c., a pad being removably attached to the outer edge of each of said partitions, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal, at the city of Washington, District of Columbia, this 26th day of February, 1897.

JOSEPH D. EAGAR.

\Vitnesses:

GEORGE II. HOWARD, ARTHUR GARNER. 

